Fire Rescue Accreditation & Professional Standards

Accreditation is the certification by an independent reviewing authority that an agency has met specific requirements and prescribed professional standards. It also allows for the department to compare their findings to industry benchmarks and best practices. Delivery of Fire Rescue service is improved by:

The Accreditation & Professional Standards Team is tasked with ensuring that all documentation and requirements are kept current in accordance with accreditation agency standards.

The Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services was conferred Accredited Agency Status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation in August 2012 and is currently a Candidate for re-accreditation in 2017. Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue is the only internationally accredited Sheriff’s fire department in the world and one of only approximately 230 fire departments internationally. The CFAI is a comprehensive self-assessment and evaluation model. It allows for fire departments to examine past, current and future service levels and performances.

During the on-site review process by five seasoned CFAI Peer Reviewers, the department's fire rescue services, programs, competencies, policies, standard operating procedures/guidelines, Self-Assessment, Standards of Cover, Strategic Planning documents, communications methods and resources such as equipment, apparatus and facilities were examined and validated. The main focus of the review was on firefighter safety and customer service to the communities our agency serves. The department’s self-assessment, strategic plan and standard of cover are managed by the Accreditation & Professional Standards staff to assure that the organizational performance is continually monitored.

The Broward Sheriff's Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services was awarded a three year re-accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) in August 2016. Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue is one of only 152 CAAS accredited agencies and is the largest dual accredited CAAS/CFAI fire department in the world. CAAS is an independent Commission that established a comprehensive series of standards for the ambulance service industry. The process includes a comprehensive self-assessment and an independent external review of the EMS organization. This independent process provides verification to your Board of Directors, city council, medical community and others that quality care is provided to the community.

All ambulance systems are eligible for the three-year accreditation including private, public, fire department and hospital-based.

In 2007, BSODFRES was accredited by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (NAEMD) in emergency medical dispatch.

The Accreditation & Professional Standards staff also manages the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) survey of all service areas of the Department and facilitates the review process in rating determining.

The Accreditation & Professional Standards team has also been instrumental, working with the Agency Grants Management Division, in securing grant funding revenues to enhance service delivery levels.

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